Truck mixer with device to make the drum of the mixer rotate

ABSTRACT

Method to make to rotate a drum of a concrete mixer comprising a vehicle provided with a movement unit having wheels, to effect the movement of the vehicle, a concrete mixer mounted on the vehicle and comprising a drum, and a device to selectively make the drum rotate. The method provides to feed an electric motor connected to the drum by means of an electric energy generator unit suitable to selectively feed the electric motor.

This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/374,327filed on Jul. 24, 2014 which claims priority to PCT/IB2013/000091 filedJul. 25, 2013, which is expressly incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns a truck mixer provided with a device tomake the concrete-mixing drum rotate.

In particular, the device at least partly uses the mechanical energy ofthe heat engine, provided to move the vehicle, in order to feed a secondmotor associated with the rotating drum.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is known to use truck mixers to transport concrete from a productionplant to the building site where the concrete is used.

Both during the loading step in the production plant and during thetransport step toward the site, the concrete must be kept malleable, andtherefore the rotating drum, which contains the concrete, must be keptin constant rotation to prevent the concrete from drying or hardening.

Moreover, upon arrival at the site, the truck mixer sometimes has towait its turn to unload. During this step too, the rotating drum must bekept in constant rotation.

Before the unloading step, the concrete undergoes a homogenization stepin which the drum of the truck mixer is made to rotate at its maximumrotation speed.

During the unloading step of the concrete the drum is made to rotate ina direction opposite the mixing direction.

In known truck mixers, the rotation of the rotating drum occurs normallyusing a hydraulic motor, which is moved by a group of pumps commanded bya heat engine which is usually a diesel engine. The heat engine can bethe one that moves the vehicle or an auxiliary engine independent fromthat of the vehicle which is mounted on it.

One disadvantage of known truck mixers is that, in order to command thehydraulic motor associated with the rotating drum, the heat engine mustbe kept always in motion, during both the loading step and the unloadingstep of the concrete, at least until the unloading step is finished,with consequent emissions of exhaust gases which are harmful both forthe health and the environment.

From documents JP-A-2003/226192, JP-A-2003/301802, and from documentDE-U-20 2009 001416 a solution is known in which the rotating drum ofthe truck mixer is driven by means of an electric motor.

In particular, document JP-A-2003/226192 describes a truck mixerprovided with a rotating drum connected directly, by means of reductionmembers, to the electric motor. The electric motor is fed, depending onthe functioning conditions, either by an electric energy generatordriven directly by the heat engine of the truck mixer, or by electricenergy accumulation batteries. The selection of the electric feed to theelectric motor by the generator or the batteries is done by a switch.Stabilization devices are also provided, to stabilize the electricenergy supplied by the electric generator and speed adjustment devices.

This solution is not very efficient, it has a reduced operatingflexibility and low electric yield, with a consequent reduction infunctioning autonomy.

One purpose of the present invention is to obtain a truck mixer whosedrum is made to rotate exclusively by means of electric means withoutrequiring a hydraulic type application as provided in documentJP-A-2003/301802 for example.

Another purpose of the present invention is to obtain a truck mixerprovided with electric means to actuate the drum which are efficient,flexible and which allow to obtain a higher functioning autonomy.

Another purpose of the present invention is to obtain a truck mixerprovided with a device able to make the rotating drum of the cementmixer rotate without needing to keep the heat engine functioning whenthe vehicle is stopped.

Another purpose of the present invention is to achieve a reduction infuel consumption, for example diesel oil, and a reduction of thecorresponding emissions, for example carbon dioxide and particulate,thus avoiding problems of cost and environmental pollution.

Another purpose is to achieve a reduction in noise and to safeguard thehealth of the people who are in the vicinity of the truck mixer,including the operators at the building site where the truck mixer is.

The Applicant has devised, tested and embodied the present invention toovercome the shortcomings of the state of the art and to obtain theseand other purposes and advantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is set forth and characterized in the independentclaim, while the dependent claims describe other characteristics of theinvention or variants to the main inventive idea.

In accordance with the above purposes, a truck mixer according to thepresent invention comprises a vehicle provided with first motor means,which cooperate with a movement unit having wheels to move the vehicle,a concrete mixer mounted on the vehicle and having a rotating drum, anda device to make the drum selectively rotate by means of second motormeans.

In accordance with one feature of the present invention, the secondmotor means comprise an electric motor connected directly, that is, bypossible mechanical means, to the drum of the concrete mixer, and anelectric energy generator unit suitable to selectively feed the electricmotor.

According to another feature, the electric energy generator unit issuitable to be associated to the first motor means, to transform atleast part of the mechanical energy produced by the first motor meansinto electric energy.

In this way it is possible to exploit and use at least a part of theenergy produced by the first motor means, provided mainly to move thevehicle, in order to command the electric motor connected to therotating drum.

Moreover, with the present invention, the drum is made to rotateexclusively by means of electric means, avoiding the use of hydrauliccomponents. This therefore avoids the use of oil, with consequentreduction of environmental impact, of the cost of disposing of the oil,and reduction in maintenance interventions.

In accordance with another feature of the invention, the electric energygenerator unit comprises:

-   -   an alternator which can be connected to the first motor means in        order to convert the mechanical energy supplied by the first        motor means into electric energy;    -   first tension conversion means from alternate to continuous,        connected to the alternator in order to convert the electric        energy produced by the alternator;    -   at least an accumulator of continuous electric energy connected        to the first conversion means in order to accumulate at least        the electric energy produced by the first conversion means;    -   second tension conversion means from continuous to alternate,        connected to the accumulator in order to supply alternate        electric energy to the electric motor.

In accordance with a secondary characteristic of the present invention,the aforesaid first motor means comprise a heat engine, provided with adrive shaft, and the electric energy generator unit comprises analternator, connected to the drive shaft of the heat engine to absorbmechanical energy from the drive shaft to be converted into electricenergy.

The at least one accumulator, associable both with the alternator andwith a possible external source of electric energy, allows to accumulateelectric energy produced by the alternator at least when the first motormeans are activated. The electric motor can therefore take electricenergy both directly from the alternator and from the accumulator.

According to a variant, the accumulator can be connected to an externalsource of energy such as an external electric network. To this purpose,another tension conversion mean from alternate to continuous isconnected to the accumulator in order to convert the electric energysupplied by the external source of electric energy.

With the truck mixer according to the present invention, we obtain theadvantage of reducing the fuel and the corresponding gaseous emissions,which are harmful for health and the environment.

Moreover, the overall noise generated during the operations of unloadingthe concrete is also reduced to a minimum, because those operations canbe carried out with the heat engine switched off, feeding the electricmotor coupled to the drum of the concrete mixer with the energyaccumulated in the accumulators.

Moreover, with the use of the electric motor and the associated electricenergy generator unit, a greater efficiency is obtained in the chain ofenergy transformation, given that the electric components usually havebetter yields than the hydraulic components used in known truck mixers.

The present invention also concerns the method to make the drum of thetruck mixer as described above rotate: the method comprises a first stepin which the second motor means, comprising the electric motor connectedto the drum, make the latter rotate, and a second step in which theelectric motor is fed by an electric energy generator unit.

The method also provides that, in the second step it is provided to:

-   -   connect the first motor means to an alternator to generate        alternate electric energy,    -   convert the alternate electric energy produced by the alternator        into continuous electric energy,    -   accumulate the continuous electric energy in an electric energy        accumulator,    -   convert the continuous electric energy of the accumulator once        again into alternate energy, and    -   feed the electric motor with the alternate electric energy in        order to make the drum rotate directly.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other characteristics of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following description of a preferential form ofembodiment, with reference to the attached drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a lateral and schematic view of a truck mixer according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematized view of the truck mixer in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF ONE FORM OF EMBODIMENT

With reference to FIG. 1, a truck mixer 10 according to the presentinvention comprises a vehicle 11, for example a truck, of any knowntype, provided with a frame 12 on which a rotating drum 16 of a concretemixer 15 is mounted. The capacity of the drum 16 is comprised, forexample, between 4 cubic meters and 12 cubic meters.

The vehicle 11 is provided with a main motor unit 13 which comprises aheat engine 20 (FIG. 2), for example the diesel type, fed by fuelcontained in a tank 19. The heat engine 20 is provided with a driveshaft 21 provided to make a transmission shaft 22 of a movement unit 14,provided with drive wheels 27, rotate by means of a clutch 23 and agearbox 24, of any known type.

The heat engine 20, which is for example able to supply power comprisedbetween 250 kW and 350 kW, by means of the movement unit 14, allows thevehicle 11 to move along the road, for example from the concreteproduction plant to a building site or vice versa.

One or more electronic devices to recover kinetic/mechanical energy 28,also known as KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery System) are associated withthe drive wheels 27, and allow to recover part of the kinetic/mechanicalenergy of the movement unit 14, which would otherwise be dispersed bythe brakes in the form of heat, during the deceleration and braking ofthe truck mixer 10.

A device 29 suitable to make the drum 16 selectively rotate is mountedon the vehicle 11.

In this case the device 29 comprises an electric energy generator unit30, suitable to feed an electric motor 31, for example of thethree-phase type, which is connected mechanically, for example by meansof reduction members such as a speed reducer 32, to the drum 16.

The electric energy generator unit 30 comprises an alternator 35, whichis connected to the drive shaft 21, by means of a driven shaft 36 withthe possible interposition of a speed reducer 37.

The alternator 35 is suitable to transform the mechanical energy of thedrive shaft 21 into electric energy, in the form of alternate current,which is subsequently transformed into a continuous current needed toload one or more electric energy accumulators 40, which arerechargeable, of the lithium type for example.

The electric energy generator unit 30 also comprises the following threeconversion means of electric energy, in this case three currentconverters:

-   -   a first converter 41, to transform the alternate tension        produced by the alternator 35 into continuous tension to feed        the at least one accumulator 40;    -   a second converter 43, in this case a current inverter, to        transform the continuous tension available from the accumulators        40 into an alternate tension, needed to feed the electric motor        31, and    -   another and possible third converter 42, to transform the        alternate tension, coming from an external electric network 45,        into a continuous tension, needed to feed the accumulators 40.        The first converter 41 and the third converter 42 can each        comprise one or more current rectifiers to allow the adequate        feed of the accumulators 40.

The electric motor 41, fed by the electric energy generator unit 30, isable to supply the power needed, for example comprised between 50 kW and80 kW, for the rotation of the drum 16.

The accumulators 40 can be recharged in one of the three followingmodalities.

A first recharging modality provides to connect the electric energygenerator unit 30 to an external electric network 45. In this case thealternate current supplied by the external electric network 45 isconverted, through the third converter 42, into a continuous current tocharge the accumulators 40. Recharging the accumulators 40 by aconnection to the electric network 45 can be quick if an industrialnetwork is used or slower if a domestic-type network is used. To thispurpose, the electric energy generator unit 30 can be provided withsuitable electric components to allow connection either to a domesticnetwork or to an industrial network.

A second recharging modality provides to use the mechanical energyderivable from the drive shaft 21. Indeed, by means of the driven shaft36, this energy is able to make the alternator 35 active, which by meansof the first converter 41 is able to supply the accumulators 40 with theenergy needed to recharge them.

A third recharging modality provides that the accumulators 40 arerecharged using part of the kinetic/mechanical energy of the movementunit 14, by means of electronic devices to recover kinetic/mechanicalenergy 28.

The electric motor 31 is fed directly by the accumulators 40 which,depending on the functioning conditions, are recharged directly eitherby the alternator 35, or by the electric network 45 or by the electronicdevices to recover kinetic/mechanical energy 28 or alternatively by acombination of these three. This solution allows to optimize thecharging of the accumulators 40 independently of the specificfunctioning needs required instantaneously by the electric motor 31.This allows to obtain an extremely versatile electric energy generatorunit 30, with high functioning yields, and having a high functioningautonomy.

The truck mixer 10 as described heretofore functions as follows.

When the truck mixer 10 is stopped for a relatively long period, longerthan an hour for example, such as when it is in a concrete productionplant to be filled with concrete, the aforementioned first modality isused to charge the electric energy accumulators 40.

When the truck mixer 10 is moving, and the drum 16 is made to rotateslowly by the electric motor 31, then there is also the simultaneousrecharging of the accumulators 40, using part of the mechanical energyof the drive shaft 21, that is, by means of the second rechargingmodality, and possibly part of the electric energy produced by theelectronic devices 28, using the third recharging modality.

On the other hand, when the truck mixer 10 is stopped in the buildingsite or nearby, and the drum 16 must continue to rotate, the electricmotor 31 is fed exclusively using the electric energy of theaccumulators 40. This step is characteristic of the functioning of thetruck mixer 10 during the concrete-unloading step, as the accumulators40 are completely charged.

In the case where the accumulators 40 are completely discharged, it isalways possible to take power from the heat engine 20 to be convertedinto electric energy using the alternator 35.

It is clear that modifications and/or additions of parts may be made tothe truck mixer 10 as described heretofore, without departing from thefield and scope of the present invention.

It is also clear that, although the present invention has been describedwith reference to a specific example, a person of skill in the art shallcertainly be able to achieve many other equivalent forms of truck mixer,having the characteristics as set forth in the claims and hence allcoming within the field of protection defined thereby.

The invention claimed is:
 1. Method to make rotate a drum of a truckconcrete mixer having a vehicle provided with a first motor whichcooperates with a wheeled movement unit, to effect the movement of saidvehicle, said method comprising a first step in which a second motor,comprising an electric motor connected to said drum, makes said drumrotate, and a second step in which said electric motor is fed by anelectric energy generator unit, wherein said second step provides to:connect said first motor means to an alternator to generate alternateelectric energy, convert by means of a first converter the alternateelectric energy produced by said alternator into continuous electricenergy, accumulate said continuous electric energy in an electric energyaccumulator, convert by means of a second converter said continuouselectric energy of said accumulator once again into alternate energy,feed said electric motor with the alternate electric energy in order todirectly make said drum rotate, connect said accumulator to an externalsource of electrical energy through a third converter to convert theelectric energy supplied by said external source to said accumulator. 2.Method as in claim 1, wherein during said second step said electricenergy generator unit transforms at least a part of the mechanicalenergy produced by said first motor into electric energy.
 3. Method asin claim 1, wherein during said second step said at least oneaccumulator is electrically fed by at least a device to recoverkinematic/mechanical energy produced by the brakes of said movementunit.
 4. Method as in claim 2, wherein during said second step said atleast one accumulator is electrically fed by at least a device torecover kinematic/mechanical energy produced by the brakes of saidmovement unit.